Celebrity Death

On the heels of Aaron Carter's death, some of his fans are making life even harder for his fiancée Melanie Martin by harassing her ... and occasionally even spooking her in person.

Sources connected to Melanie tell TMZ ... ever since Aaron died, going online has been a nightmare for Melanie because she's getting so many hateful messages from the singer's supporters.

The constant harassment includes fans wishing death on Melanie, while others accuse her of being responsible for Aaron's death.

She's also come face-to-face with some real-life drama.

Our sources say folks have been showing up at Aaron's Lancaster, CA home ... where he was found dead in a bathtub. We're told they come onto the property and go right up to the windows of the house or vehicles to peer inside, and it's scaring the hell out of Melanie.

TMZ broke the story ... there was a police presence outside Aaron's home earlier this week, while Melanie was moving some of her things out of the house.

We're told Melanie called police to the house to keep the peace. Due to all the harassment directed at her, she wanted to ensure there'd be no issues while she was at Aaron's house.

Our sources say Melanie was retrieving baby items, diapers and clothes for their son, Prince, along with some of her things ... and now Aaron's fans are accusing her of stealing his possessions, which we're told is NOT the case.

It's all getting to Melanie ... we're told she's scared and now understands the issues Aaron was living with for years, because the online harassment turned from him toward her.

Takeoff’s life is being celebrated in the exact Houston location where he was shot and killed.

The memorial for the Migos rapper -- complete with flowers, photos, heart-shaped balloons, and a sign that reads "R.I.P Takeoff" -- was set up outside of 810 Billiards & Bowling, right in the hallway where someone opened fire last week following an argument with Quavo.

As we reported, the hail of gunfire struck Takeoff and 2 other people, who survived their injuries.

Fans are flocking there to pay their respects by leaving lit candles. They've also removed petals from flowers and placed them on the ground in a line to symbolize Takeoff resting in peace.

Let It Slide -- a nonprofit anti-violence organization -- traveled from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to the memorial site to spread their message ... stopping the bloodshed and choosing peace.

As we reported, Takeoff's funeral will be held Friday at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

Aaron and Nick Carter had a tumultuous relationship over the years, and the brothers were never able to have a one-on-one conversation to bury the hatchet before Aaron's death.

Family sources tell TMZ … Aaron believed he was on good terms with Nick in his final days, but he never actually had a conversation with Nick himself.

We're told in the months leading up to Aaron's death, his estranged sister, Angel, got word to Aaron that she and Nick loved him and wanted him to get healthy ... and because of this, Aaron felt Nick and Angel were being supportive and they were all on good terms.

Our sources say Aaron further believed things were okay between him and Nick because past correspondences with his family were usually explosive, and the recent signals coming from Angel and Nick stood in stark contrast to the past.

Remember ... Nick and Angel each had a restraining order against Aaron, so any direct correspondence between the siblings would have been out of the question ... at least legally.

As we first told you, Nick first got the restraining order back in 2019 after claiming Aaron threatened to kill Nick's pregnant wife and unborn child. Angel got her restraining order the same year, accusing Aaron of threatening to send hit men to her door.

It sounds like the ice was finally thawing ... and we're told Aaron felt Angel's message was Nick's way of getting word to Aaron that the brothers were back on good terms.

When Nick paid tribute to Aaron at a concert this week, he mentioned how he still loved his little brother despite their rocky relationship, saying Aaron's death broke his heart.

Al Sharpton is laying into individuals who blame hip hop culture for Takeoff's homicide, and says social media only fools you into thinking rappers are more violent than society, at-large.

We caught up with Rev. Al Wednesday in NYC, where he pointed out hip hop is filled with artists who are responsible and actively lift up their communities. He says it's unfortunate the advent of social media helps to amplify violent incidents way more than the good ones.

The Rev accurately pointed out all the other music genres where violence has occurred for decades -- and he largely agreed with what Method Man told us about the Takeoff tragedy.

The Wu-Tang Clan star was peeved over the slain Migos rapper's passing, and equally annoyed over all the scapegoating of rap.

In fact, Rev. Al is giving hip hop credit for being proactive when it comes to spreading awareness against gun violence.

Late 1980s rap songs such as Stop the Violence Movement's "Self Destruction" and West Coast All Stars' "We're All In The Same Gang" are evidence of that.

Sharpton also recalls R&B singers getting into shootouts before the dominance of rap ... a fact to which superproducer Teddy Riley can cosign.

In 1989, entourages for Teddy's group Guy and New Edition began beefing ... leading to NE’s production manager Ronald Byrd fatally shooting Guy’s security chief, Anthony Bee.

Alicia Keys is performing at Takeoff's memorial service this week ... TMZ has learned.

Sources with direct knowledge of the event tell us AK is scheduled to take the stage Friday at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta for the Migos rapper's sendoff. It's unclear how long Alicia will perform, or what exactly she might be singing ... but we do know she'll be there and mic'd up to sing.

Alicia doesn't have any solo tracks with Takeoff specifically, but she and Migos were all featured on Kanye West's last 'Donda' album -- so there is a connection there.

She also posted a tribute to Takeoff after his shooting death, saying ... "This is too much. It's like every day. RIP Takeoff. Sending light to your family and loved ones. We are losing too many too soon!!"

Tickets for Takeoff's memorial are already sold out ... and as we first told you, Justin Bieber is also set to perform at the service.

Aaron Carter's fans -- at least some of them -- have a growing suspicion the singer may have taken his own life ... but those closest to him couldn't disagree more.

Family sources connected to Aaron tell TMZ the singer had a lot he was looking forward to, and for the first time in a while, he and his ex, Melanie Martin, were in a really good place with their relationship.

Fans have thrown theories around on social media that Aaron may have died by suicide -- pointing to a recent post that read, "LOVE YALL STAY BLESSED STAY SAFE. ENJOY THE HOLIDAYS." Some fans believe Aaron knew he wasn't going to make it to the holidays and was planning on taking his own life -- even appearing out of it on live streams.

Our family sources say if anything, Aaron couldn't wait for the holidays, and was even planning on spending time with both Melanie and their young son, Prince. He also had set up appointments with a family counselor and social worker -- which he knew would help his chances of being a more involved parent.

Law enforcement sources told us they did not find a suicide note at the scene of Aaron's death -- and that there were cans of compressed air and prescription pills in the singer's bathroom and bedroom. Although not conclusive, that evidence suggests he died by accident.

TMZ broke the story, Aaron was found in his L.A. home, having drowned in his bathtub sometime Friday.

We're told the last time he was seen alive was about 2 AM Friday morning after cops were called for a welfare check, which pissed the singer off, and he sent them away.

At this time, an official cause of death for Aaron has been deferred pending toxicology results.

Aaron Carter's home is bustling with activity a few days after his sudden death -- his fiancé is moving her stuff out, and deputies are there too.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... a woman called L.A. County Sheriff's deputies to the late singer's home Tuesday afternoon, telling cops she wanted deputies to "keep the peace" while she retrieved her belongings.

A couple moving trucks are parked outside Aaron's home in Lancaster, CA ... and his fiancé, Melanie Martin, was pictured opening the front door, wearing a hoodie.

Our sources say police arrived at the property 10 minutes after the call came in, with cops keeping an eye on things while the moving process unfolded.

It's unclear why Melanie felt she needed law enforcement there to keep things calm ... but it appears a couple other folks were helping her pack.

Aaron had a live-in housekeeper, but we don't know if she was there while Melanie was grabbing her stuff. As far as we know, no one else was living there with him.

Law enforcement tells us no crimes were committed at the home, and deputies consider it a civil matter. We're told all the cops have now left Aaron's home.

Aaron Carter was working on a sitcom before he passed away ... and we're told the production is going to honor him by moving forward, dedicating the project to his memory.

Brian Farmer, writer and director of "Group," tells TMZ ... Aaron and co. wrapped on the pilot episode of the show a month ago -- and he's since gotten a blessing from Aaron's camp to complete the project and dedicate it to him.

He says the show revolves around group therapy and pushes for mental health advocacy -- something we're told Aaron was eager to open up about, playing a fictionalized version of himself.

Brian tells us he was a kind soul that was a true pleasure to work with -- adding being a part of the show gave Aaron something positive to work toward.

The pilot's currently in post-production, and will be shopped around to networks once completed ... alongside Aaron on the show -- "Freaks and Geeks" star Samm Levine, Anne Judson-Yager from "Bring It On Again," and Mike Starr from "Dumb and Dumber" & "Goodfellas."

Olive Chiacchia, who played his love interest on the show, posted about losing her costar over the weekend ... saying, " I wish the world saw you the way I do, and saw your side of the story."

Aaron Carter was in and out of rehab therapy sessions up until his death, and we're told his last scheduled appointment -- which he missed -- was supposed to happen Friday night.

Sources close to Melanie Martin, Aaron's fiancée, tell TMZ ... she was desperately trying to get him help during their off-and-on relationship -- although he mostly kept her in the dark about any recent addiction struggles.

Our sources say Melanie signed up Aaron for outpatient rehab after confronting him back in September. As we reported, he got a welfare check around that time when fans got worried he was huffing compressed air off-camera.

We're told Aaron agreed to go through the program, with the idea that it would go a long way in helping him regain some custody of their son, Prince -- who's currently under the care of Melanie's mom.

Sources say he stopped the program briefly, but was reinstated last week -- Aaron was supposed to have an online session Friday evening, but was a no-show. When the facility reached out to tell Melanie, she broke the tragic news to them.

Keep in mind, it's possible -- if not likely -- Aaron missed that appointment because he'd already died.

TMZ broke the story ... cops were called to Aaron's Lancaster, CA home Saturday morning for a report of a drowning -- the housekeeper found his body in the bathtub, and the last known contact with him was 2 AM Friday. Aaron's cause of death is currently deferred by the L.A. County Coroner's Office until toxicology results are returned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ there were multiple cans of compressed air in his bathroom and bedroom ... as well as prescription pills.

Justin Bieber is performing at Takeoff's memorial service this week ... TMZ has learned.

Sources familiar with the situation tell us JB is set to hit the stage Friday at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta. Unclear how long his set will be or what exactly he might be performing ... but we do know he'll be there and mic'd up to sing.

Justin doesn't have any solo songs with Takeoff specifically, but he's done a couple collabs with the Migos -- "What You See" and "Looking for You" -- plus another couple with Quavo ... so there's a connection there.

Bieber doesn't appear to have posted any tributes to Takeoff, but this might be the ultimate way to honor the late rapper. Bieber's and any other performance is gonna be a closely guarded secret the day of ... all phones are going to be confiscated from anyone attending.

Worth noting ... Bieber postponed his world tour earlier this year to focus on his mental health, so him coming back to this is significant.

Leslie Phillips -- a prolific British actor who was part of the 'Harry Potter' franchise -- has died.

His team confirmed he passed away Monday peacefully in his sleep, this according to the BBC. No other details were released.

Phillips is perhaps best known by this generation as the voice of the Sorting Hat in the 'HP' flicks -- he starred in 3 of them ... "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," "Harry Potter and Chamber of Secrets" and the final movie, "Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 2."

Before any wizarding work, though, LP already had quite a career on his hands ... having starred in dozens of projects between radio, film and TV. He has a whopping 174 acting credits to his name, many of which date back to the 1950s.

For starters, Phillips made several appearances in the famed "Carry On" slapstick comedy movies and TV show in Great Britain.

Other notable movies he's been in over the years ... "Empire of the Sun," "Is Anybody There?," "August," "Venus," and "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider."

When it comes to TV series ... he'd been in countless. 'Casanova '73' and 'Chancer' come to mind -- as does 'Our Man at St. Marks' and 'Honey for Tea,' among others.

The dude was known for his comedy chops and well-timed catchphrases -- definitely a big deal in British circles, especially those who consumed media in the '50s, '60s and '70s.

Aaron Carter was heavily focused on making new music in recent weeks, and we're told he was even getting the jump on an album ... hoping it would mend fences with his brother, Nick Carter.

The singer's manager, Taylor Helgeson, tells TMZ ... Aaron started working with his team on "Love 2" -- a sequel to his 2018 album -- just a couple of weeks ago. We're told he was really excited about it, seeing it as some of his best work yet.

Taylor says Aaron was pouring his emotions into the album -- addressing a lot of personal topics, laying it all out for his fans ... so they'd finally understand him and his struggles.

We're told Aaron's other goal for the project was fixing his relationship with Nick and the rest of his family. He planned to use the music to tell them just how much he loves them, especially Nick.

As we reported, Aaron expressed his love for his bro just a couple of weeks before he died ... singing a Backstreet Boys song and telling him he'd always have his back.

TMZ broke the story, Aaron's housekeeper found him dead Saturday in the bathtub at his home.

Nick broke down in tears the next day while honoring his brother in London during a Backstreet Boys show.

Aaron Carter was very clearly struggling with an addiction to huffing compressed air, and investigators found evidence of that at the site of his death.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... there were multiple cans of compressed air in Aaron's bathroom and bedroom, as well as prescription pills. It's not clear if that's what caused him to drown, but obviously, it's a big clue into what may have happened.

Our law enforcement sources say the last time anyone saw Aaron alive was 2 AM Friday. We're told Aaron's live-in housekeeper heard a knock at the door at 2 AM and answered ... she says cops had come to do a welfare check ... unclear who called them. Our sources say the housekeeper opened the door and when Aaron heard what was going on he told them to leave and ordered the housekeeper not to bother him.

We're told the housekeeper didn't see Aaron all day Friday, and Saturday morning she went to his bedroom door to see if he wanted coffee. She heard his dog inside the bedroom going crazy, so she opened the door and found Aaron's body in the tub.

Law enforcement believes Aaron's body was in the tub for a long time as there was a smell of decomposition and the water had turned an unnatural color. We're told the tub's jets were still running when Aaron's body was found.

TMZ broke the story, cops were called to Aaron's L.A. area home Saturday for a report of a drowning. Dispatch audio from the 911 call revealed a chaotic scene inside Aaron's home with dispatchers describing a "female yelling" for help. We're told that was the housekeeper.

Aaron's cause of death is currently deferred by the L.A. County Coroner's Office until toxicology results are returned ... which could take months. We're told no suicide note was found and there were no signs of foul play.

Of course, there's been an outpouring of love and tributes for Aaron since his death -- Hilary Duff said, "You had a charm that was absolutely effervescent…boy did my teenage self love you deeply. Sending love to your family at this time. Rest easy."

The Backstreet Boys also sang and paid tribute to Aaron, his brother Nick got emotional during the show in London.

Late Migos rapper Takeoff's funeral is set for this coming Friday, and much like his career, the homegoing will be big … going down at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

The venue, which is home to the NBA's Atlanta Hawks, has the capacity to host more than 20,000 people.

Rev. Jesse Curney, III of New Mercies Christian Church will be officiating the services, which will begin at 1:00 PM … according to Atlanta radio station V-103.

In a statement, Rev. Curney said, "I was really sad to hear the news. Kirsnick has been a faithful member since he was ten years old. He and his family were active and avid supporters of the church and the community as a whole."

Emotions in the city have been heavy since Takeoff was shot and killed on November 1 in Houston.

Graffiti artist Armondo "Ape" Monoletti crafted a mural in Atlanta, just hours after the tragic news and friends and fam of Takeoff held a balloon sendoff over the weekend in his honor.

Aaron Carter's friends, family and even his fans believed the singer was in a dark place, and desperately needed help ... but clearly, it was too late.

In a video allegedly captured from a live stream the singer did in the days leading up to his death Aaron reads a message he says is from his fiancée Melanie which states, "You're going to die."

The words clearly upset Aaron, though we're told he only cherry-picked one part of her text to read to his fans. The text from Melanie was a cry to him to stop huffing on Instagram Live, which had been alleged by many fans. Melanie told him, "If it's true what you're doing, you're not going to end up alive. You're going to die. I love you, this is not safe. Please don't do this to yourself."

Aaron's fans were also very active in commenting on his live streams and social media posts, sometimes voicing their concern if he seemed to be out of it. After his death, one fan wrote, "I was watching his IG live the other day thinking the guy needed help asap."

TMZ broke the story, fans called the cops to Aaron's home for a welfare check in September after they believed he was huffing during a live-streaming session. First responders made contact with Aaron, who told them he'd been asleep, and they left as there was no additional cause for concern.

In another video from Aaron's live just a couple weeks before he died, Aaron expressed his love for his older brother and Backstreet Boys star, Nick Carter, during a live session -- letting Nick know he always would have his back.

Nick released a statement about Aaron Sunday, saying, "My heart is broken. Even though my brother and I have had a complicated relationship, my love for him has never ever faded. I have always held on to the hope that he would somehow, someday want to walk a healthy path and eventually find the help that he so desperately needed."

TMZ broke the story, Aaron was found dead inside his L.A. home Saturday -- cops responded to a call for a drowning ... and multiple sources tell us he was found in his tub.

Nick Carter says he's totally shattered by the death of his brother, Aaron, and proclaimed his love for his younger sibling despite their complicated and often rocky relationship.

In a lengthy tribute posted to Instagram, Nick poured out his heart, which he now says is "broken," sharing his deepest thoughts about Aaron's sad demise.

Nick's full statement reads, "My heart is broken. Even though my brother and I have had a complicated relationship, my love for him has never ever faded. I have always held on to the hope that he would somehow, someday want to walk a healthy path and eventually find the help that he so desperately needed. Sometimes we want to blame someone or something for a loss, but the truth is that addiction and mental illness is the real villain here. I will miss my brother more than anyone will ever know. I love you Chizz. Now you can finally have the peace you could never find here on earth….I love you baby brother."

As you may know, Nick and Aaron almost never saw eye to eye during their relationship, mainly in recent years. And, Nick publicly acknowledged this fact, pointing out his brother struggled with drug addiction and mental illness.

TMZ broke the story ... Aaron was found dead in his L.A. home Saturday morning after police received a 911 call of a man who drowned in a bathtub.

Authorities haven't confirmed an official cause of death, but we're told police will be doing a deep dive into his past drug use.

Aside from Nick's passionate words, Aaron's twin sister, Angel Carter, also honored her brother in an Instagram post ... vowing to hold onto their most cherished memories and sharing a series of throwback photos together.